"The
Portable Internet" is the sixth in the series of "ITU
Internet Reports", originally launched in 1997. It has been
prepared to coincide with ITU TELECOM Asia 2004, Exhibition and
Forum, to be held in Busan (Republic of Korea) from 7 to 11
September 2004. This new report examines the emergence of high-speed
wireless Internet access together with the proliferation of portable
devices. In so doing, it explores the market potential and future
impact of this new set of technologies underlying the "portable
Internet". Chapter one, the Introduction, defines the portable
Internet for the purposes of the report, focusing in particular on
its disruptive nature relative to existing business models, and
examines the stakes for industry and the public sector. Chapter two,
Technologies for the portable Internet, provides a technical
overview of high-speed mobile and wireless networks underlying the
portable Internet. Chapter three, Market trends, looks at
growth patterns, market opportunities, pricing strategies and
corporate strategies. Chapter four, Policy and regulatory
aspects, discusses the challenges faced by regulators and
policy-makers in an increasingly portable environment. Chapter five,
The Portable Internet as a tool for bridging the digital divide,
considers the impact of the portable Internet in underserved areas
and looks at the role played by national policy, community
initiatives, education and affordability in extending its reach.
Chapter six, The future of portable Internet technologies,
explores cutting-edge developments and future market applications.
Chapter seven, The information society and the human factor,
looks at the impact of portable Internet technologies on society and
socialization. The Statistical annex contains the latest
available data (year-end 2003 statistical indicators, and July 2004
price data) for some 206 economies worldwide, as well as graphs and
charts benchmarking performance.

ITU
is committed to playing a positive role in the development of the
information society and to extending the benefits of new information
and communication technologies, such as portable Internet solutions,
to all the world's inhabitants. This is in line with Resolution 101
of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (Minneapolis, 1998; updated
Marrakesh 2002), which calls upon ITU to "fully embrace the
opportunities for telecommunication development that arise from the
growth of IP-based services", and subsequent ongoing calls from
ITU's Member States to continue actively to pursue this objective.
The ITU Internet Reports are hopefully a significant contribution to
that commitment.